The U.S. never ratified the UN Convention on Biodiversity, but what the globalist bureaucrats assembled in Armenia do could have lasting impacts on American interests. The Trump Administration scaled back the U.S. presence. Here’s what a young member of CFACT’s delegation saw:
From the bustling camera crews chasing their next big interview, to various countries’ delegates discussing international policy, COP17 has been full of action. The day starts with a taxi ride from our Airbnb to the conference. Once we arrive near the venue, we get out of our Yandex (the local rideshare service in Armenia) and walk down a set of worn, dirty stairs 
patrolled by dozens of police to reach the conference entrance. After entering, we go through a TSA-like security screening, where we remove our laptops, and walk through a metal detector.
After the screening, we are greeted by a long hallway full of energy, and excitement. Looking in one direction, you see members of the media setting up their cameras, hoping to catch the next important figure walking through the doors. In another direction, delegates are chatting in a hundred different languages, while elsewhere, a journalist is conducting an important interview.
Inside the Meridian Expo, it’s another world. People from every corner of the globe come together, bringing different opinions and perspectives to discuss the world’s issues. China, Sweden, Cameroon, Mexico, and Syria are just a few of the countries represented, all discussing the importance of biodiversity.
Stepping into one of the rooms brings a completely different atmosphere. One room might have a press conference taking place, with important figures answering questions from journalists. Another might host a panel discussion with 
environmental experts, while yet another has a speaker sharing his thoughts on biodiversity. Around 15,000 people have gathered here to learn, discuss, and report.
The venue also provides catering, and occasionally, local Armenian dishes and salads are served. Throughout the day, we walk around the conference speaking with delegates, asking questions at panels, conducting interviews, and taking photographs.
One interview that stands out to me was with a young woman from South Sudan with the Biodiversity Youth Network. She explained that anyone wishing to marry her would need 400 cows. At these kinds of conferences cattle are frowned upon. She also emphasized that the Western world should be listening to Indigenous people and their perspectives.
It’s not just a particular speech or panel that sticks in my mind after being here. It’s the sheer number of people, conversations, and different perspectives that all come together in one place. It’s a side of diplomacy that’s easy to appreciate from a distance, but being here reveals the people and conversations that make the conference what it is.
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The post CFACT teen reporter at biodiversity COP17: What I saw that you won’t see on TV was first published by the Committee For A Constructive Tomorrow (CFACT), and is republished here with permission. Please support their efforts.
